The new england journal of medicine From the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring (M.L.R., L.A.E., L.L.J., J.M., M. Manak, S.T., E.S.-B., M.R., J.D.-S., M.A.E., M. Milazzo, Q.L., S.P., J.H.K., N.L.M.), Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (M.L.R., L.A.E., M. Manak, S.T., E.S.-B., M.R., J.D.-S., M.A.E., M. Milazzo, Q.L.), the Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (E.S.), Bethesda, and Emmes, Rockville (A.L., H.W., P.D.) all in Maryland; Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda (H.K.); Walter Reed Project, Kericho, Kenya (K.R., F.K.S., S. Sinei); Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania (L.M.); the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (S.N., E.K., S. Sriplienchan, M.S.S., R.J.O.) and SEARCH, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center (E.K., M.S.S.) both in Bangkok, Thailand; and the International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea (J.H.K.). Address reprint requests to Dr. Robb at the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, 7A Rockledge Dr., Bethesda, MD 7, or at mrobb@ hivresearch. org. * A complete list of the members of the RV 7 Study Team is provided in the Supplementary Appendix, available at NEJM.org. This article was published on May,, at NEJM.org. N Engl J Med ;7:-. DOI:.5/NEJMoa595 Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. Original Article Prospective Study of Acute HIV- Infection in Adults in East Africa and Thailand Merlin L. Robb, M.D., Leigh A. Eller, Ph.D., Hannah Kibuuka, M.B., Ch.B., Kathleen Rono, M.B., Ch.B., Lucas Maganga, M.B., Ch.B., Sorachai Nitayaphan, M.D., Eugene Kroon, M.D., Fred K. Sawe, M.B., Ch.B., Samuel Sinei, M.B., Ch.B., Somchai Sriplienchan, M.D., Linda L. Jagodzinski, Ph.D., Jennifer Malia, Dr.Ph., Mark Manak, Ph.D., Mark S. de Souza, Ph.D., Sodsai Tovanabutra, Ph.D., Eric Sanders Buell, B.S., Morgane Rolland, Ph.D., Julie Dorsey Spitz, B.S., Michael A. Eller, Ph.D., Mark Milazzo, B.A., Qun Li, M.Sc., Andrew Lewandowski, Ph.D., Hao Wu, Ph.D., Edith Swann, Ph.D., Robert J. O Connell, M.D., Sheila Peel, Ph.D., Peter Dawson, Ph.D., Jerome H. Kim, M.D., and Nelson L. Michael, M.D., Ph.D., for the RV 7 Study Team* ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Acute human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV-) infection is a major contributor to transmission of HIV-. An understanding of acute HIV- infection may be important in the development of treatment strategies to eradicate HIV- or achieve a functional cure. METHODS We performed twice-weekly qualitative plasma HIV- RNA nucleic acid testing in 7 volunteers who were at high risk for HIV- infection. For participants in whom acute HIV- infection was detected, clinical observations, quantitative measurements of plasma HIV- RNA levels (to assess viremia) and HIV antibodies, and results of immunophenotyping of lymphocytes were obtained twice weekly. RESULTS Fifty of volunteers with acute HIV- infection had two or more blood samples collected before HIV- antibodies were detected. The median viremia (.7 log copies per milliliter) occurred days after the first sample showed reactivity on nucleic acid testing. Reactivity on an enzyme immunoassay occurred at a median of days. The nadir of viremia (. log copies per milliliter) occurred at a median of days and was nearly equivalent to the viral-load set point, the steady-state viremia that persists durably after resolution of acute viremia (median plasma HIV- RNA level,. log copies per milliliter). The viremia and downslope were correlated with the viralload set point. Clinical manifestations of acute HIV- infection were most common just before and at the time of viremia. A median of one symptom of acute HIV- infection was recorded at a median of two study visits, and a median of one sign of acute HIV- infection was recorded at a median of three visits. CONCLUSIONS The viral-load set point occurred at a median of days after the first detection of plasma viremia and correlated with viremia. Few symptoms and signs were observed during acute HIV- infection, and they were most common before viremia. (Funded by the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.) n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
HIV- Infection in Adults in Africa and Thailand Events during acute human immunodeficiency type (HIV-) infection may modulate the long-term course of HIV- disease. - Acute and early HIV- infection is a major contributor to the epidemic spread of HIV-, 5-7 and limiting this spread through test and treat strategies may require treatment of persons during the acute phase of infection. - The HIV- reservoir, which confounds efforts to cure infection, may be more responsive to antiviral therapy during acute HIV- infection than during chronic infection. - Intervention during this stage of infection could dramatically reduce epidemic spread, 5 reduce the size of the HIV- reservoir, and potentially achieve long-term control of plasma viremia without the use of longterm antiviral treatment. Studies of the clinical presentation and kinetics of viremia in persons with acute HIV- infection and of the role of these factors in predicting longterm outcomes show conflicting results. Initial descriptions of acute HIV- infection were based on cohorts of persons who were identified on the basis of symptoms that were often characterized as those of seronegative mononucleosis.,7- The use of pooled nucleic acid testing has permitted broader identification of acute HIV- infection, and classification systems for the staging of acute HIV- infection have been developed on the basis of the sequential reactivity of nucleic acid testing, the presence of the p antigen in plasma, and results of antibody testing., We performed a study involving volunteers who were at high risk for HIV- infection. Plasma nucleic acid testing was performed twice weekly, and a systematic analysis of the clinical, virologic, and immunologic characteristics of the earliest stage of HIV- infection was conducted. Methods Study Design and Population RV 7 is a prospective natural-history study conducted at the Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda; the Walter Reed Project, Kericho, Kenya; the Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania; and the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand. The protocol (available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org) was approved by the local ethics review boards and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Participants were recruited from bars, clubs, and other locations associated with transactional sex. Men and women, to 5 years of age, who were at high risk for HIV- infection were identified with the use of an audio computer-assisted self-interview. To be eligible for study entry, participants had to meet at least one of the following four criteria within the previous months: had exchanged goods for sex, had unprotected sex with a known HIV-positive partner, had unprotected sex with three or more partners, and had symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection. In the first part of the study, which involved surveillance of participants who were not infected, volunteers who had at least one of these highrisk criteria underwent small-volume blood collections by fingerstick measurement twice weekly and large-volume blood collections of to 7 ml every months. Small-volume blood samples were tested for HIV- RNA within to hours after collection. Volunteers in whom tests for HIV- RNA were reactive entered the second part of the surveillance phase, during which large-volume blood samples were obtained and a structured medical evaluation was performed twice weekly for weeks. Volunteers with confirmed HIV- infection were enrolled in the long-term follow-up phase. Full details of the study design and statistical analysis plan are provided in the protocol. Medical Management Volunteers with HIV- infection were referred to a local care provider for treatment, including antiretroviral therapy. Counseling regarding HIV risk reduction was provided every months and informally during small-volume blood collections. Condoms and lubricants were provided to participants at the study sites. The study team encouraged care providers to initiate treatment promptly if the volunteers had clinically significant symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome, were pregnant, or met national guidelines for the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Nucleic Acid Testing Approximately μl of whole blood measured with a fingerstick device was collected into a BD Microtainer (Becton Dickinson) containing EDTA. Whole blood was centrifuged at 9 g for minutes and plasma was separated into aliquots for same-day or next-day testing. Plasma was diluted (in a :5 ratio) in phosphate-buffered n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
The new england journal of medicine saline (ph, 7. to 7.5) and tested for HIV- RNA with the use of the Aptima HIV- RNA Qualitative Assay (Hologic). HIV Serologic Testing, Measurement of Viral RNA, and Flow Cytometry HIV serologic testing with the use of standard diagnostic methods was performed at screening, every months, and during the second part of the surveillance phase (see the Supplementary Appendix, available at NEJM.org). Plasma HIV- RNA levels were measured in batches with the use of the RealTime HIV- Assay (m RealTime System, Abbott Molecular). EDTA-anticoagulated samples of whole blood were analyzed with the use of the BD Multitest on an FACSCalibur flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson). HIV- subtyping was performed as described previously (see the Supplementary Methods section in the Supplementary Appendix). Data Analysis Day was defined as the day on which the first blood sample was reactive for HIV- RNA. Viral RNA levels below the lower limit of quantitation were imputed by dividing the limit of quantitation by two. The viral upslope was calculated from the date of the last negative sample to the viral load, excluding data from participants for whom the period between the last negative sample and the first sample that was positive for HIV- RNA was more than days. The early nadir in the HIV- RNA viral load was defined as the lowest viral load after the viral load through day. Viral downslope was calculated from the viral load to the early nadir viral load. The viral-load set point was defined as the average viral load of all samples collected before antiretroviral therapy was administered between days and 5 among participants in whom at least two viral-load values were measured during this period. Results of physical examinations and reported clinical symptoms are described according to the study visit and per patient. Data on participants were censored at the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Statistical Analysis We performed an exploratory analysis of viralload dynamics in acute HIV- infection without prespecified hypotheses. Correlations between Figure (facing page). Enrollment and Outcomes. Single false reactive results on qualitative nucleic acid testing were common, but acute HIV infection was confirmed in all participants who had two consecutive plasma samples that were reactive for HIV- RNA on qualitative nucleic acid testing. Among participants with acute infection, viremia could be accurately defined in 5 participants who had at least two samples in which testing for HIV- RNA was reactive and enzyme immunoassay was nonreactive. Four of these participants were excluded from virologic and immunologic analyses because they received early antiretroviral therapy (ART). Most infections were of the subtype HIV- CRF_AE in Thailand and of the HIV- subtype A and recombinant form of the A, C, and D strains in East Africa. Fiebig stages range from I through VI, with higher stages indicating a more mature stage of antibody response to HIV. CI denotes confidence interval, EIA enzyme immunoassay, and NAT nucleic acid test. viral load and immune factors were assessed with the use of Spearman s rank-correlation coefficients (rho). Regional differences in viral loads in East Africa and Thailand were evaluated with the use of Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. We used Wilcoxon signed-rank test to assess changes from baseline. Log-transformed viral RNA dynamics during the first year were assessed with the use of regression splines with participantspecific intercepts and slopes. Lymphocyte data were assessed with the use of repeated-measures models with adjustment for region and study visit. (Details of the statistical analysis are provided in the Supplementary Methods section in the Supplementary Appendix.) Clinical signs (abnormal physical findings on examination) and symptoms were described primarily with comparisons between geographic regions for individual findings with the use of Fisher s exact test. All analyses were performed with the use of SAS software, version 9. (SAS Institute) and GraphPad Prism, version.a (GraphPad Software). Results Study Participants From June 9 through June 5, a total of 95 volunteers were screened (Fig. ) and 7 of 7 high-risk participants (.9%) with negative results on an enzyme immunoassay for HIV antibodies entered the surveillance phase. n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
HIV- Infection in Adults in Africa and Thailand 95 Participants were screened for high-risk behavior (HIV prevalence,.%) 7 Did not meet high-risk criteria Were HIV-positive 5 Were HIV-negative 7 (9%) Qualified as high-risk 7% Reported > risk criterion 9 Were excluded 7 Were HIV-positive and were not enrolled 7 Exited study before enrollment HIV-positive participants had small-volume blood collections to minimize risk of stigmatization of excluded HIV-infected volunteers 7 HIV-negative participants had small-volume blood collections >7,95 Nucleic acid tests performed Had initial reactive nucleic acid results 9 Returned to surveillance phase Subtype 7 Had subtyping performed A C AC AD ACD CD B CRF_AE CRF_AE/B CRF_AE/C 5 Kenya Tanzania Thailand Uganda 5 Had acute HIV confirmed (mean age, yr [range, ]) Were in Kenya Were in Tanzania 5 Were in Thailand Were in Uganda Were female 5 Were male 5 Had or more EIA-negative/HIV- NAT reactive samples and a sample before HIV- infection 5 Were included in virologic and immunologic analysis Were in Kenya Were in Tanzania 7 Were in Thailand 9 Were in Uganda Incidence rate (95% CI) Overall,. (.7.) Kenya,. (.7.) Tanzania,. (..) Thailand, 5. (.7.5) Uganda,. (.9.) Had only a single EIA-negative/ HIV- NAT reactive sample Had no preinfection EIA-negative/ NAT-negative sample 9 Did not have a single EIA-negative/ HIV- NAT reactive sample or were lost to follow-up in Thailand had at least one Fiebig I III sample in treatment phase 5 Had or more samples after day (set point) Started ART during early acute HIV- infection Had physician recommendation Was pregnant 5 Were included in the primary analysis n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
The new england journal of medicine Viral Load (log.7. Peak Nadir Days to Days to EIA Days to nadir 5 7 9 Days since First Positive Test for HIV- RNA Figure. Viral Loads over the First Days of HIV- Infection in 5 Participants. Longitudinal viral-load values are plotted against the number of days since the first blood sample was reactive for HIV- RNA in participants from East Africa and 7 from Thailand who had two or more blood samples that were nonreactive on enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and were reactive on nucleic acid testing. Day is the day of the first positive nucleic acid test. The box-and-whisker plots show the median, interquartile range, and range for each variable. The vertical box plots show and nadir viral loads, and the horizontal box plots show the number of days from the first reactive result on nucleic acid testing to the viral load, to reactivity on the EIA, and to the nadir viral load. Median values are shown for each variable. The majority of participants reported receiving goods for sex (%), having symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (%), or both (Table S in the Supplementary Appendix). Most participants with acute HIV- infection in the three African sites were heterosexual women, whereas most participants with acute infection from Thailand were homosexual men or transgender women. To accurately define viremia, we restricted the analysis to the 5 participants in whom at least two large-volume blood samples showed detectable HIV- RNA and a nonreactive enzyme immunoassay, who had had at least one study visit before detection of viral RNA, and who had quantitative HIV- RNA data. Analysis of the viral-load set point in 5 participants who had not received antiretroviral treatment required two blood samples obtained after day. In these participants, a median of days (range, to days) occurred between the last negative sample and the first sample that was reactive for HIV- RNA. Figure (facing page). Viral-Load Associations. Spearman s correlations of (Panel A) and nadir (Panel B) viremia with the viral-load set point in participants from Thailand (black dots) and East Africa (red dots) are shown. Five participants were excluded because of missing viral-load data or the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. The early viremic nadir and viral-load set point were highly correlated (Panel B) and did not differ significantly (Panel C). A significant positive Spearman s correlation of viral-load downslope with the viral-load set point was observed in participants with acute HIV- infection (Panel D). Viral-load upslope did not show significant Spearman s correlation with the viral-load set point in the overall sample (Panel E). Seven of 5 participants were excluded from the upslope analysis because the interval between the last test that was negative for HIV- RNA and the first test that was reactive for HIV- RNA was longer than days. Comparisons with the use of a Wilcoxon rank-sum test did not show regional differences between East Africa and Thailand with respect to viral load (Panel F); however, the viral-load set point was higher in participants in Thailand, with a narrower range of values (Panel G). Sex, race or ethnic group, and HIV- subtypes also differed between the two groups. HIV- Viral Dynamics Figure shows HIV- viremia during the first days of HIV- infection, including the median days to the viral load, enzyme immunoassay reactivity, and early nadir viral load. The median initial viral RNA level was. log copies per milliliter (range,. to 7.), and a median of.7 log copies per milliliter (range,.5 to.5) was reached days (range, to ) after the first sample showed reactivity for RNA on nucleic acid testing. A third-generation enzyme immunoassay was reactive at a median of days (range, to ). The median early nadir viral RNA level,. log copies per milliliter (range,.7 to.), occurred at a median of days (range, to ). The median viral-load RNA set point was. log copies per milliliter (range,.5 to.) (Tables S and S in the Supplementary Appendix). The spline models showed a significant interaction between viremia and geographic region and indicated differences in viral RNA dynamics among regions. The models also showed that the viral-load set point was established at the conclusion of acute viremia and remained stable subsequently (Fig. S in the Supplementary Appendix). Peak viremia was positively correlated n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
HIV- Infection in Adults in Africa and Thailand Thailand East Africa A (N=5) B (N=) (log copies /ml) Rho=.9 P<. (log Rho=. P<. Peak Viral Load (log Nadir (log C P=.9 by Wilcoxon signed-rank test Viral Load (log Nadir N=7 N=5 D (N=) E (N=) (log Rho=. P=...... (log Rho=. P=.7..... Viral-Load Downslope Viral-Load Upslope F Peak Viral Load (log P=.5 G (log P=. East Africa N= Thailand N=7 East Africa N= Thailand N=7 n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, 5 Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
The new england journal of medicine Thailand East Africa A P=. P<. B 5 P<. P<. CD+T-Cell Count (cells/mm ) 5 5 Viral Load (log CD+T-Cell Count (cells/mm ) 5 5 5 Viral Load (log 7 9 5 5 7 9 5 5 Mean Visit Day since First Reactive RNA Sample Mean Visit Day since First Reactive RNA Sample C Natural-Killer-Cell Count (cells/mm ) P=. P=.5 5 7 9 5 5 Viral Load (log D B-Cell Count (cells/mm ) P<. P=. 5 7 9 5 5 Viral Load (log Mean Visit Day since First Reactive RNA Sample Mean Visit Day since First Reactive RNA Sample Figure. Immune-Cell Counts over 5 Days of Follow-up in 5 Participants. The absolute counts of CD+ T cells (Panel A), CD+ T cells (Panel B), natural killer cells (Panel C), and B cells (Panel D) are plotted against the mean visit day. The red dots indicate participants from East Africa, and the black dots 7 participants from Thailand. The blue dotted line indicates the mean viral load. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed on available paired data before the initiation of antiretroviral treatment. A significant decrease in absolute CD+ counts and a significant increase in absolute CD+ counts at day 7 roughly coincided with the timing of the viral load in participants with data that could be evaluated. By day 5, absolute CD+ and CD+ counts had not returned to initial levels in participants. Absolute natural-killer-cell counts decreased at day 7 in participants; however, these counts returned to original levels by day 5 in participants. There was a significant decrease in absolute B-cell counts (P<.) at day 7 in participants; however, these counts recovered by day 5 in participants. with the viral-load RNA set point in the total cohort (rho =.9, P<.) (Fig. A) and independently in each geographic region (Fig. SA in the Supplementary Appendix). There was a strong correlation between an early viral RNA nadir at the end of acute HIV- infection and the viralload set point (rho =., P<.) (Fig. B); this correlation remained significant within each region (Fig. SB in the Supplementary Appendix). The values of the early nadir and set point did not differ significantly (Fig. C); this shows that the viral-load RNA set point was established within the first days after viremia was detectable. The downslope of viral RNA was correlated with the viral-load RNA set point (rho =., P =.) (Fig. D). The upslope of viral RNA was not correlated with the viral-load set point in the overall cohort (Fig. E); it was strongly correlated in Thailand only (rho =., P =.) (Fig. n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
HIV- Infection in Adults in Africa and Thailand SD in the Supplementary Appendix). Although the viral RNA level was nearly the same in Thailand and East Africa (Fig. F), the viral-load set point differed significantly between the two regions (Fig. G). Immunophenotype Immunophenotyping of lymphocytes showed no change or a minimal variation from normal values at the first study visit after the onset of plasma viremia (Fig. A through D, and Fig. S in the Supplementary Appendix). Subsequently, levels of both B cells and CD+ T cells decreased sharply at the time of viremia, while levels of CD+ T cells increased significantly. Changes in levels of natural killer cells during acute infection were variable. viremia, levels of CD+ T cells increased and levels of CD+ T cells decreased, but these levels never returned to a normal range. Levels of CD+ T cells and B cells were inversely correlated with contemporaneous viral RNA levels, whereas the increase in the number of CD+ T cells was correlated directly with contemporaneous viral RNA levels in a model adjusted for geographic region and study visit. adjustment for other cell counts, region, and visit, a -cell increase in the CD+ T-cell count was associated with an average decrease of. in log viral RNA across visits. The nadir CD+ T-cell count was correlated with the CD+ T-cell count at months (rho =.59, P<.). Clinical Presentation A structured history was obtained and a physical examination was performed at study entry, every months, and every or days throughout the period of acute infection. Symptoms and signs were identified at least once during observation in 9% of the participants with acute HIV- infection (% reported at least one symptom and 7% reported at least one sign). However, during the period of acute infection, in 7 of 5 visits in which participants underwent a physical examination (7%), participants reported no symptoms, and 5% of these participants had neither symptoms nor signs. Fever, headache, and malaise were the most common symptoms, and tachycardia, lymphadenopathy, and other head and neck findings were the most common signs (Table S5 in the Supplementary Appendix). The greatest number of A 9 7 5 9 7 5 infection No. of Reported Symptoms Visit Peak Figure 5. Medical Symptoms and Signs before and after Diagnosis of HIV Infection in 5 Participants. The symptoms reported from the medical history (Panel A) and the number of abnormal physical findings (signs) on examination (Panel B) are shown at study visits before, after, and at the time of viremia. The dashed lines indicate individual participants. symptoms was reported at the study visit before the viral RNA level (median, ; range, to 5) and was reported at a median of two visits (Fig. 5A). Observed signs on physical examination ed at the visit before the viremia (median, ; range, to ) and were recorded for a median duration of three visits (Fig. 5B). Heat maps enumerating each volunteer s symptoms or signs at each visit show that most findings Mean Median 75th percentile No. of 5 5 5 5 Participants B No. of Signs infection Visit Peak Mean Median 75th percentile No. of 5 5 5 Participants n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, 7 Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
The new england journal of medicine occurred before and at the time of viremia but waned quickly thereafter (Fig. SA and SB in the Supplementary Appendix). Although fever was the most common reported symptom, only six volunteers were found to be febrile on physical examination. Lymphadenopathy was more common among participants in Thailand than among those in East Africa (P<.) (Table S5 in the Supplementary Appendix). The magnitude of the lymphnode enlargement was minimal; the maximal lymph-node diameter was greater than cm in only five volunteers. Disease Progression The CD+ T-cell count at months after the diagnosis of HIV- infection and the last available CD+ T-cell count were used to evaluate the disease course. The start of antiretroviral therapy was not used as an end point because it was most frequently initiated because of pregnancy. exclusion of five participants without a CD+ T-cell count within days before or after the -month time point, the CD+ T-cell count was inversely correlated with the viral-load RNA set point (rho =.5, P<.). Similarly, the last available CD+ T-cell count was highly and inversely correlated with the viral-load RNA set point (rho =.5, P =.). A surrogate clinical end point was the number of days to two consecutive visits during which a CD+ T-cell count of less than 5 cells per cubic millimeter was recorded. exclusion of volunteers who were pregnant or who had started to receive antiretroviral therapy for reasons other than a CD T-cell count below 5 cells per cubic millimeter, 5 of 5 participants reached this surrogate clinical end point in a median of days (range, 7 to ). There was no difference in follow-up time between participants who reached the end point and those who did not (P =.). The viral RNA level did not differ significantly between participants who reached the end point and those who did not; however, the viral-load RNA set point was significantly higher among those who reached the end point than among those who did not (median,. log copies per milliliter vs.. log copies per milliliter, P =.), absolute CD+ T-cell counts at year were lower (median, 5 cells per cubic millimeter vs. 9.5 cells per cubic millimeter, P =.), and CD+ T-cell s were higher (median, cells per cubic millimeter vs. cells per cubic millimeter, P =.). Discussion In contrast to previous studies of acute HIV- infection in which volunteers were evaluated less often, we evaluated high-risk volunteers twice weekly in order to systematically describe both the clinical disease and host virus interactions, with precise determination of the onset and dynamics of acute plasma viremia. The upslope,, and downslope of viremia in acute infection were defined with precision and at a high frequency among observed cases of HIV- infection. These variables were significantly associated with the viral-load set point; this association underscored the crucial role of the very earliest interactions between the host and virus in determining the long-term course of the disease. Our study showed that the viral-load RNA set point was established within days after detectable viremia, was steady over the period of observation, and was associated with the early clinical outcome as measured by the CD+ T-cell count months after infection and a CD+ T-cell count below 5 cells per cubic millimeter. The viremia reported here was of a higher magnitude (median, log.7; range, log.5 to.5) than that which is commonly reported, - probably because of the frequency of assessment. Although the viremia was nearly equivalent in East Africa and Thailand, there was a significant difference of. log copies per milliliter in the viral-load RNA set point. Differences in viral-load RNA set points according to sex have been reported; set points in men are generally approximately three times as high as set points in women who have infections of the same viral subtype. 9 Because of multiple confounding variables, including host genetic factors, viral subtype, endemic disease, and risk characteristics, a mechanistic explanation for this regional variation in the viral set point remains undefined. This study showed the alterations in cell phenotype before and during viremia. At the onset of plasma viremia, immunophenotypes were largely normal, but subsequently, CD+ T-cell counts decreased and CD+ T-cell counts increased around the time of the viral RNA level, were highly correlated with the viral RNA level during acute HIV- infection, and did not n engl j med 7; nejm.org June, Downloaded from nejm.org on February,. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
HIV- Infection in Adults in Africa and Thailand fully recover as the viral RNA level decreased to the set point. Ndhlovu et al. recently described an association between the timing and magnitude of CD+ T-cell activation and the viral-load set point in cases of acute infection. The observed, dramatic loss of B cells has been reported in simian immunodeficiency virus, - but data on the role of this loss in acute HIV- infection in humans are lacking. In many studies of HIV-, patients had symptoms before an evaluation for the diagnosis of acute infection was initiated. 5, As in other studies of acute HIV- infection, most persons in our study (9%) had clinical manifestations sometime during acute infection. However, nonspecific symptoms and signs were most common, severe manifestations were not observed, volunteers reported symptoms in only 9% of visits, and on any given visit day the likelihood of observing a symptom or sign was only 5%. The frequency of clinical manifestations of disease clustered before the viremia and at the time of viremia and resolved quickly, but the median number of symptoms and signs was only. Since the study scheduled visits throughout the period of acute HIV- infection, the proportion of participants who would have sought medical care is unknown. Sullivan et al. reported symptoms and signs of acute infection among discordant couples who were prospectively followed every months and found that a majority of patients with incident HIV- infection could not recall an illness and did not pursue medical care. Thus, systematic identification of acute HIV- infection may be challenging and will probably require nucleic acid testing with a rapid turnaround and frequent evaluation of high-risk groups rather than clinical presentation in a health care setting. The contribution of acute HIV- infection to HIV- transmission may be substantial. 5-7,7, Presumably, a high viral load plays a part, but the biologic characteristics of transmitted founder viruses, the homogeneity of viral sequence during acute HIV- infection, and the incomplete or immature host immune response may create a transmission diathesis. HIV- may evolve to maintain efficient replication in the host and lose characteristics that are favorable for transmission. Recent data show that transmitting viruses are qualitatively distinct from those emerging under host immune pressure. 9 Viral RNA is a dominant factor in the risk of transmission in various patient groups (e.g., among infants who may become infected through perinatal transmission and among heterosexuals), and if a high level of viral RNA in acute HIV- infection is the primary variable contributing to increased infectiousness in early and acute HIV- infection, the duration of this risk appears to be brief because the viral-load RNA set point is achieved within a few weeks after viremia. This observation may have important consequences and may limit the effect of test-and-treat strategies on overall rates of transmission. The data reported here emphasize the importance of acute infection to our understanding of the pathogenesis of HIV-. They also provide evidence that during the acute phase, identification of cases of HIV- on the basis of clinical criteria may prove to be difficult. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the positions of the Departments of the Army or Defense or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Supported by the Department of Defense through cooperative agreements (WXWH-7--7 and WXWH--7) with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine and by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, through an interagency agreement with the U.S. Army (Y-AI--7). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported. Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org. We thank the RV 7 study volunteers and study teams in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Thailand for their contribution and commitment to HIV research; Margaret Johnston, Ph.D., and Bonnie Mathieson, Ph.D., of the National Institutes of Health for their guidance and advocacy from the beginning of the study design; and Jintanat Ananworanich, M.D., for expert review of an earlier version of the manuscript. References. Kelley CF, Barbour JD, Hecht FM. The relation between symptoms, viral load, and viral load set point in primary HIV infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 7; 5: 5-.. Lavreys L, Baeten JM, Chohan V, et al. Higher set point plasma viral load and more-severe acute HIV type (HIV-) illness predict mortality among high-risk HIV--infected African women. Clin Infect Dis ; : -9.. Lefrère JJ, Roudot-Thoraval F, Mariotti M, et al. The risk of disease progression is determined during the first year of human immunodeficiency virus type infection. J Infect Dis 99; 77: 5-.. 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